58% of Americans still have a VCR, poll shows

With so many new and exciting gadgets catching our eyes at the International CES in Las Vegas, it can be easy to forget about technology of the past. Who these days has a basic cellphone without a digital plan? Or what about a VCR?

Lots of people, in fact.

A Gallup poll released on Monday shows that, while they’re plummeting in popularity, VCRs and basic cellphones are still found in about half of American homes. Fifty-eight percent of respondents had a VCR in 2013, compared with 88% in 2005; 45% owned a basic cell phone that is not a smartphone in 2013, compared with 78% in 2005.

Those older devices are more often owned by older Americans, according to the poll. Seventy-four percent of respondents age 65 and older owned a VCR in 2013, while 61% had a basic cellphone. Compare this to the 18- to 29-year-old crowd. Forty-one percent of younger respondents had a VCR and 24% had a basic cellphone.

Laptop computers and iPod/MP3 players saw the largest growth in ownership from 2005 to 2013. Sixty-four percent of Americans owned laptops last year, compared to 30% in 2005; 45% owned an iPod/MP3 player in 2013, compared to 19% in 2005.

Those newer forms of technology are more often owned by younger Americans, according to the poll. Eighty-eight percent of respondents age 18 to 29 owned a smartphone in 2013, while 79% had a laptop computer. Among Americans age 65 and older, 25% owned a smartphone and 41% owned a laptop.

The DVD or Blu-ray player was the most popular item both years, with 80% ownership in 2013 and 83% in 2005. Ownership of cable television, 68%, did not change from 2005 to 2013, despite the growing popularity and accessibility of streaming services.

The Gallup poll was conducted Dec. 5-8, 2013, with 1,031 Americans age 18 and older.